Paracas tour from Lima

Islas Ballestas: Arrival at the Port of Paracas “El Chaco”. We will visit Ballestas Islands where you can see the famous chandelier, an enigmatic geoglyph 180 m long and 1.2 m deep that can only be seen from the sea or the air due to its location. We continue with our journey to the Ballestas Islands where we will be able to appreciate important marine fauna, such as large colonies of guano birds, Humboldt penguins and the friendly sea lions, with a little luck we will be able to see dolphins. The tour lasts 2 hours. • Admission Ticket Included

The Ballestas Islands are a small group of rocky islands that are home to thousands of birds and mammals including penguins, sea lions, Inca terns, pelicans and dolphins. They are located in the Pacific Ocean, just off the coast of Paracas. Paracas is a small fishing town in the Pisco Province of the Ica Region.

Ica Upon arrival to the City of Ica, lunch at the Hacienda el Catador (lunch if selected option ) . We will also visit the Bodega el Catador, where the grape brandy, famously known as Pisco, is made. Old Bodega Fundo Tres Esquinas, where we will show you the entire process of how Peruvian Wine and Pisco is made in an artisanal way since 1856, guided by an experienced worker from the winery. Here we will find antique pieces such as Barro Botijas, Copper Skirt and Huarango press which are used today. After visiting the winery’s facilities, visitors will be invited to taste the main products made in the winery. : Wines, Piscos, Pisco Creams and Mistelas. Accompanying with dynamic phrases Typical of the city of Ica. 2 hours •

 Huacachina Finally arrival at the Oasis de la Huacachina, which is located just 5km from the center of the city of Ica. In this beautiful lagoon, visitors will be able to enjoy the tranquility of the place, walk around in search of good photos and practice adventure sports such as Buggies and Sanboarding.

This Huacachina oasis was formed thanks to an underground current of water, which generated the growth of plants and trees in the middle of the ica desert. Currently, there are efforts underway in order to preserve the oasis, and to help to preserve the vegetation which is made up of palm trees, eucalyptus and carob trees.

Being a natural oasis, Huacachina has been one of the favorite tourist destinations of Peruvians and foreigners for decades. In the 1960’s it was a famous summer resort. This resort boasted houses, hotels, a boardwalk around the lagoon and even a spa for treatments. Today, Huacachina is visited by hundreds of people who come to enjoy the dune tours in buggies, try their hand at sandboarding and experience Huacachina’s famously wild nightlife.

The history of Lima, the capital of Peru, began with its foundation by Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535. The city was established on the valley of the Rímac River in an area populated by the Ichma polity. It became the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru and site of a Real Audiencia in 1543. In the 17th century, the city prospered as the center of an extensive trade network despite damage from earthquakes and the threat of pirates. However, prosperity came to an end in the 18th century due to an economic downturn and the Bourbon Reforms.

The population of Lima played an ambivalent role in the 1821–1824 Peruvian War of Independence; the city suffered exactions from Royalist and Patriot armies alike. After independence, Lima became the capital of the Republic of Peru. It enjoyed a short period of prosperity in the mid-19th century until the 1879–1883 War of the Pacific when it was looted and occupied by Chilean troops. After the war, the city went through a period of demographic expansion and urban renewal. Population growth accelerated in the 1940s spurred by immigration from the Andean regions of Peru. This gave rise to the proliferation of shanty towns as public services failed to keep up with the city expansion.